Remembrance Day for Sultan Hurre and His Likes
 (SHHRF 0022/2004, 15 Augutst2004)
(English vesion)

August 17, 2004 is the second anniversary of the heinous murder of the respected Sultan Ahmed Mohamed Hurre in Puntland. As admitted by Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf to the High Court of the United Kingdom, Sultan Hurre was killed by Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf own bodyguards. Sarcastically, this extra-judicial execution took place while Colonel Abdullahi was just watching it from a vantage point. This type of execution was similar to those carried against Colonel Farah Mohamed Said (Farah Dheere) in 2002 and Abdirahman Aideed in 1984. What these men shared was nothing else but by being the political opponents of Colonel Abdullahi. The abuse of human rights and the attitude “why bother my political enemies, when I can eliminate them” has became the trademark of the colonel.

Since Colonel Abdullahi took power in Puntland by the barrel of the gun on 21 November 2001, killing several innocent civilian people, Puntland lives in fear. For example, no one dares to oppose him publicly. Ironically, it is this aura of fear that gives Colonel Abdullahi the “confidence” to show himself as a statesman who can stand for the presidential candidate in the currently Somali Reconciliation Conference in Kenya, sponsored by the regional Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD). IGAD and the international community’s undertaking are questionable if they do not bar the likes of Colonel Abdullahi to stand for a high office in any future Somali government. Somali warlords should not be allowed to seek immunity

Despite the fact that there are many of the so called candidates with well documented human right abuses in Mbagathi, Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf is the only leader to have curbed a post-state collapse democratic institution which sprung out in Puntland State of Somalia following the collapse of the Somali state institutions in 1991. Only a few weeks ago did he extend his rule for another period, thus strengthening his dictatorial system commonly known as “maamulka madax-ka-nool” which means “the one man-show administration”. Puntland was the most peaceful place before Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf fooled the public and camouflaged himself as a leader. We believe that Somalis will not fall into his trap at the national level.

17 August 2002 has entered into the annals of Somali history as the day of mourning for all peace-loving Somalis. It is the day when a respected, educated and reform-seeking traditional leader was shot point-blank by no one but by the man who claims to be the ruler of Puntland. Surprisingly, no single investigation has been conducted to this day let alone putting the killer behind the bars.

We urge all the Somalis to remember August 17 as Remembrance Day for all Somalis killed for political reasons. We ask you to express your feelings this day in different ways. Our slogan is to “stand against the culture of political killing”.



Sultan Hurre Human Rights Focus (SHHRF)